Telephone attachment



Nov. 17, 1931. P. F. LONDON 1,832,643

TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 18, 1929 Patented Nov. 17 1931 PAUL 1.LONDON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI TELEPHONE ATTACHMENT Application filedOctober 18, 1929. Serial No. 400,477.

This invention relates to telephone attach ments, and has specialreference to a device of novel construction for attachment to atelephone instrument so as to operate auto- 5 matically and as anincident to the removal of the receiver from the hook, or other support,with which the instrument is provided to illuminate the telephone dialor any other part brought in position for illumination by theilluminating device.

'An object of the invention is to provide a device having novel meansfor attachment to the telephone instrument, and novel means undercontrol of a movable part of the telephone instrument so as to operateautomatically and as an incident to removal of the receiver for use toilluminate the dial or other desired part of the instrument.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved illuminatingattachment with improved means for attaching the same to a telephoneinstrument and embodying an improved device for controlling theinstrument as to operate the illuminating element thereof automaticallyand as an incident to removal of the telephone receiver, substantiallyin the manner herein disclosed, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the telephoneinstrument of familiar construction having my improved attachment inconnection therewith.

Fi 2 is a side elevation of the instrument showlng the attachment inconnection therewith.

Fig.3 is a side elevation of the attachment removed from the telephoneinstrument, parts being shown in section.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional new show ing some of the importantfeatures of the invention.

The device shown in the drawings comprises a casing 1 which encloses abattery 2 which constitutes a source of electrical energy for operatinga lamp 3. One side of the battery 2 is in circuit with a spring isuported and enclosed within a cup 5 of insuiiiting-material mounted inthe lower end of the casing 1. .An electric circuit wire 6 is enclosedwithin insulation 7 and leads to connection with the spring 4. Theinsulated wire 6 extends upwardly within the casing 1 and between thewall of the casing and the battery 2 and outwardly from the casingthrough a hole 8.

A metallic clamp 9, comprising an arcuate resilient plate, has one edgeattached to the casing 1. This plate is curved and shaped so as to clamparound the stand or post 10 of a telephone instrument and illustratesone form of a device for attaching the present invention to a telephoneinstrument of the type shown. Of course, the form of support forattaching the device to a telephoneinstru- 55 ment will be varied tomeet the needs of each form of instrument, and the invention is notrestricted to this specific type, except as defined by the claimpertaining thereto. It is clear from the drawings that the clamp 9 7will engage around the upper end of a telephone member 10 and supportthe device in position to cooperate with the telephone instrument toobtain the desired results. An I advantage of this type of clamp 9 foruse in connection with the telephone instrument shown is that the devicemay be readily attached to and removed from the instrument withoutmarring or removing any of the parts of either the telephone instrumentor the present invention. Another advantage is that the device may bereadily adjusted along the telephone instrument to proper position forcooperation with the parts thereof. Still another advantage is that thedevice may be 5 attached to a telephone instrument as an accessory or asupplemental equipment and it is not required to be built or embodied inthe telephone instrument when the instrument is manufactured. These andother advantages are obtained by this invention.

The insulated wire 6, after leaving the hole 8 of the'casing 1, isenclosed and confined in a rolled'portion 11 at the upper end of theclamp 91 The clamp 9 has rigid or integral 95 therewith an extendedcurved arm 12, the upper edge of which also has a rolled portion 13encloslng the insulated wire which extends through a socket 14 on theend of the arm 12 in which the lamp 3 is removably secured.

Thus, the filament of the lamp 3, is as familiar, is in circuit with thewire 6 so that when the circuit is closed the lamp will be operated,with the result that the telephone dial 15, or any other part, will beilluminated.

The lamp 3 is covered by a reflector or canopy 16 which reflects therays of light downwardly or in any desired direction and to any desiredplace.

The casing 1 is a metallic casing and 1s e uipped with a removable lidor cover 17. The cover 17 has a depending annular flange 18 designed andarranged to telescope upon the upper end of the casing 1, arid saidflange is provided at appropriate points and intervals with sockets 19arranged to engage with beads 20 formed in the wall of the casing 1 forthis urpose.

A resi ient circuit closing device comprising a resilient arm 21 has oneend of said arm 21 removably attached to a removable screw 22. The screw22 passes through and is supported by an insulation sleeve 23 mounted ina hole in the lid 17. A nut 24 is screwed onto the lower end of thescrew 22 and clamps the end of the arm 21 against the insulation 23which is thereby supported out of circuit with the casing. The innerlower .end ofthe screw 22 contacts with a battery terminal 25 (Fig. 4).

The arm 21 projects through a hole 26 in the wall 18 of the lid 17 andhas a downwardly extended portion 27 terminating in a lateral extension28. The lateral extension 28 is covered by insulating material 29.

A screw 30 is screwed into a socket 31 in the lid 17 and has on itslower end a piece of insulating material 32. I

The natural and inherent power and resiliency of the arm 21 issuflicient to raise said arm into contact with the upper edge of thehole 26 and thus ground the circuit from the battery, thereby closingthe circuit and operating the lamp 3. However, the screw 30 may beoperated downwardly a suificient distance to place the insulating piece32 in position to act as an abutment to'linn't extent of upward movementof the arm 21 and prevent said arm from contacting with the lid 17 atthe upper side of the hole 26. Thus, the screw 30 is adjustable toprevent closing of the circuit.

When this device is attached to the telephone instrument substantiallyin the manner shown, it is adjusted along the post or stand 10 to aposition in which the end of A the arm 28, having the insulatingsubstance 29 thereon, is under and engaged by the receiver hook 33. Theweight of the receiver 3:1 on the hook 33, as is well known, issuflicient' to hold the hook 33 in its downward position. When thereceiver hook 33 is in its downward position, it holds the arm 21 bentdownwardly so that said arm 21 is wholly out free to be raised by theinherent resiliency thereof to a position in which said arm 21 contactswith the lid 1718 at the upper edge of the hole 26, thus automaticallyclosing the circuit and operating the lamp 3.

The power by which the clamp 9 is engaged with the post 10 is suflicientto support the device in the position described, so that the device willoperate as desired. The clamp 9 is of such construction that the deviceof the present invention. may be readily turned about or moved' alongthe post 10 to proper adjustment, so that the receiver hook 33 willcooperate with the device.

It is now clear that this invention obtains all of the objects, purposesand advantages herein mentioned, or otherwise apparent to those skilledin the art. The construction, arrangement and relationship of the partsmay be varied within the scope of equivalents without departurefrom thenature and principle of the invention. And, the structure may also bevaried so as to adapt it for attachment to telephone instruments ofother types, such variations will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art Without specific illustration.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a support, a source ofelectrical energy, a lamp carried by said support in circuit with oneside of said source of electrical energy and the support, a case carriedby said support and forming a housing for said source of electricalenergy, a cover for said case in circuit with the other side of saidsource of electrical energy, having an aperture in one side thereof, aswitch arm carried by said cover and insulated therefrom projectingthroughbut clear of said aperture, the free end of said-switch beingpositioned below the receiver hook whereby said switch is permitted tocontact with the wall of said aperture when the hook is raised, and amanually operable member carried by said cover to maintain said switchin an open position.

PAUL F. LONDON.

ofcontact with the flange 18 of the lid 17.

